R. Carlos Nakai, a Native American musician of Navajo descent, has long been a prominent figure in New Age and Native American music, mixing the musical traditions of various native tribes with contemporary genres like jazz, ambient, electronica, and world fusion. Nakai's Quartet is one of his main vehicles of experimentation, and PEOPLE OF PEACE is no exception.

Bassist and singer Mary Redhouse, pianist/multi-instrumentalist AmoChip Dabney, and percussionist Will Chipman create textures and frameworks for Nakai's haunting flute work. The range of styles here is quite interesting, with nods to traditional Native American themes ("Wingyaa"), Latinized jams ("Club Dread"), atmospheric pop ("E'she'no"), pulsing tribal grooves ("Flute Forest"), and ethnic fusion a la Peter Gabriel's PASSION (the title track). There is a heavy ambient, atmospheric flavor to PEOPLE OF PEACE, which unifies the divergent styles nicely, making for an experience that can relax and entrance, while staying true to Nakai's unique musical vision.